Republicans propose weakening governor's broad veto powers
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin governors could lose their most powerful and broad partial veto authority under a new Republican proposal.
Under current law, governors can cross out words, numbers, or punctuation from any appropriation bill through a partial veto. It's widely considered to be the most expansive veto authority in the country.
However, those powers would be limited under a constitutional amendment introduced by Republican lawmakers.
On Monday, State Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) and Senators Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin) Cory Tomczyk (R-Mosinee) proposed only allowing governors to veto entire sections of a spending bill.
“For too long, governors in Wisconsin have abused the partial veto power to twist legislation passed by elected representatives into something that is unrecognizable," GOP lawmakers said in a joint statement. “This proposed amendment is a common sense solution that would put Wisconsin in line with how the majority of states treat the governor’s veto power.”
Gov. Tony Evers took many Republicans by surprise after using his partial veto powers to extend school funding increase for 400 years in the 2023-2025 state budget, securing per pupil revenue increases by striking out numbers and a hyphen.
Evers’ decision to drastically change what lawmakers intended the budget to look like is currently the center of a lawsuit before the state Supreme Court.
During oral arguments, liberal and conservative justices questioned Evers' broad veto authority that governors have had for decades.
Republican and Democratic governors have both used their partial veto authority to alter state budgets since the 1930's, but those powers have been scaled back over the last few years.
The group of Republicans proposing the measure believe partial veto powers currently used by governors have turned them into a "super lawmaker."
"It's been a pattern of behavior by governors over the last 50 years and it's time for us to correct it," said Rep. Allen.
The constitutional amendment would need to pass the GOP-controlled Legislature twice, over two consecutive sessions, before the issue is presented to voters. Evers cannot reject constitutional amendments.
A spokeswoman for Evers took aim at Republicans for proposing another constitutional amendment. Last year, voters were asked to amend the state constitution five times on various issues related to elections, voting and spending federal aid.
Evers prefers creating a process for citizen-led referendums, a move that would allow voters to create or alter laws. GOP lawmakers have said they'll reject his proposal.
"It says a lot about Republicans’ priorities that they are attempting to put yet another Republican-drafted and Republican-backed constitutional amendment on the ballot while they refuse to give the people of Wisconsin that same opportunity," said Britt Cudaback, Evers spokeswoman. "Republicans’ message to the people of Wisconsin is clear: power for me but not for thee."